Why is My Dishwasher Not Draining?

Although it’s never a welcome sight to open your dishwasher and discover it is still full of water, try not to overreact just yet. You might be able to solve the issue by yourself, without having to call a plumber or acquire a brand-new dishwasher.

Your machine declining to empty can be bought about by any number of things a proportion of which can be straightforward to solve. Therefore, before you call a dishwasher repair service here is a list of potential things you could identify by yourself. Some of which aren’t even caused by the machine itself.

Check the program wasn’t cut short

If you’re fortunate the standing water you have discovered may not be a problem at all. Alternatively, the cycle might have been cut short.

The cycle might have been interrupted for multiple of reasons. Little fingers pushing buttons, mistakenly pressing on the control panel, a power surge or opening the machine mid-program may all stop the program from completing and mean your machine doesn’t empty.

If you suspect this may be the case, or you just want to be sure it’s not the issue start your dishwasher again on a quick cycle.

Some machines may have a drain capacity meaning it’s worth checking your instruction manual or doing a quick internet search to check.

Check the disposal

If your dishwasher is connected to your disposal check this first as a blocked waste disposal will prevent your machine from draining. Turn on the disposal with plenty of water to check there are no blockages.

If you do uncover an issue drain un-blocker or a natural alternative can be used to remove the blockage and so this could rectify the fault.

Inspect the plumbing for clogs

If you kitchen sink is emptying inefficiently this may signify a plumbing issue as opposed to a problem with your dishwasher.

In the case that the kitchen sink is draining slowly you may try putting some bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar down the plughole, leaving it for a while and then rinsing it away with boiling water.

A sink plunger might also be used to try and shift the obstruction.

This could be sufficient to permit your machine to drain so run a short program at this point. If this hasn’t solved the problem you could remove the water by hand using a cup as well as a towel and troubleshoot a few more areas.

Make certain to disconnect the dishwasher to stay safe.

If during any of these checks you suspect you have detected and repaired the error there is no need to continue to the next issue. Just run an empty program to ensure your machine is fixed.

Inspect and clean the filters

Any number of things could block the filters including popcorn, paper from containers, film covers and smashed glass. Clear film may also be hard to see if you don’t look closely.

Take out the filter then scrub it thoroughly before replacing it. Not all machines have their filter in the same place so you may need to consult the instruction manual for this.

Is the waste water hose obstructed?

The next component to inspect is the waste hose. Stuck food, a kink in the hose or a crushed hose can all impede your machine from emptying.

Subject to the position of the hose (usually the corrugated one) you may have the means to inspect it by means of taking off the kick board alternatively you may be required to pull the dishwasher away from under the counter.

Have a look at the hose in the first instance to discover if there are any kinks or it’s been squashed. You could be able to manually remove any kinks which should rectify the issue, however, it’s worth noting that once this has happened it is significantly more inclined to happen again so you may wish to purchase a replacement hose.

If you are unable to see anything you can take off the waste pipe from the pump and blow through it to discover any blockages. Make sure you put down newspaper or towels before you remove the hose as there could still be water in the pipe.

If you can’t blow air through the hose this could be the issue.

Take off the other end of the hose and give it a good flush through to get rid of the obstruction. If you can’t shift the blockage or the pipe is cracked or worn purchase a brand-new one. If you can clear the blockage then re-attach the hose and run a quick program to double check that you have solved the error.

You can also examine the point where the hose connects under your sink. This is a common point for blockages to occur so if you do take off the hose give this area a good scrub as well.

Check the drain valve

You can manually inspect the drain valve to make sure it isn’t seized. The drain valve will usually be situated in the bottom of the machine on the valve bracket. Examine your manual if you’re unsure.

Depressing the valve or giving it a jiggle should be sufficient to find out if it’s stuck. If you can see an object blocking it remove this. If you are unable to, this could be the right time to ring a repair person unless you are confident in ordering and swapping out the component yourself.

Inspect your pump is not broken

Your appliance pump uses impellers that may become obstructed by broken glass or other debris. Check your impellers aren’t broken by taking off the cover and ensuring that the impellers can be easily rotated.

Run your machine and listen for any unusual sounds

If it sounds unusual your pump or motor might be damaged and need replacing.

Call a plumber

If none of the above checks has fixed the fault, or you think the pump, pump valve or motor are not working, it could be the moment you need to call for help.

This way though you will at least manage give them more information and have avoided needing to pay a hefty repair fee for a blocked hose.